Automatic belt alignment system for an endless track laying work machine

Abstract

Endless track laying work machines are provided with a pair of track roller assemblies positioned on opposite sides of the work machine. Each track roller assembly includes an endless rubber belt entrained around a drive wheel, an idler wheel, and a plurality of supporting mid-rollers. An automatic belt alignment system is utilized to align the endless rubber belt during operation of the endless track laying work machine ( 10 ). The automatic belt alignment system also provides connection of the idler wheel assembly to a tensioning system and to the forwardly extending nose portion of a track roller frame.

What is claimed is:  
     
       1. An automatic belt aligning system for a track roller assembly including an endless rubber belt being entrained around a drive wheel and an idler wheel assembly, the drive wheel and the idler wheel assembly being attached at opposite ends of a roller frame, said belt alignment system comprising; 
       a spindle having first and second spaced apart shaft portions and first and second radially extending flange portions;  
       a first aligning mechanism being pivotally connected to the first radially extending flange portion;  
       a second aligning mechanism being pivotally connected to the second radially extending flange portion; and  
       a lever member being connected to said second aligning mechanism and positioned in operative communication with the endless rubber belt.  
     
     
       2. The automatic belt aligning system, as set forth in claim  1 , wherein said lever member further including an arm portion being positioned in a groove in the endless rubber belt. 
     
     
       3. The automatic belt aligning system, as set for the in claim  2 , wherein said arm portion further includes a roller element rotatably connected thereto. 
     
     
       4. The automatic belt aligning system, as set forth in claim  1 , wherein said lever member further including a pair of arm portions one each of the pair being positioned on opposite sides of a protrusion on an inner surface of the endless rubber belt. 
     
     
       5. The automatic belt aligning system, as set for the in claim  4 , wherein said pair of arm portions further include a roller element rotatably connected to each arm portion. 
     
     
       6. The automatic belt aligning system, as set forth in claim  1 , wherein said first aligning mechanism includes a spherical bearing assembly. 
     
     
       7. The automatic belt aligning system, as set forth in claim  1 , wherein said second aligning mechanism includes a universal type apparatus having a block portion having first and second connecting pins and a roller pin assembly, said roller pin assembly being positioned at an angle substantially normal to said first and second connecting pins, said roller pin assembly pivotally connecting said block portion to said second flange portion. 
     
     
       8. The automatic belt aligning system, as set forth in claim  7 , wherein the first connecting pin of the universal type apparatus being received by a forwardly extending nose portion of the roller frame and the second connecting pin being received in a pin receiving portion of a cap member, said cap member having a mounting portion being adapted to be connected to said forwardly extending nose portion of the roller frame. 
     
     
       9. The automatic belt aligning system, as set forth in claim  1 , further including a tensioning system being connected to said spherical bearing assembly of said first aligning mechanism. 
     
     
       10. The automatic belt aligning system, as set forth in claim  1 , further including first and second wheel segments respectively rotatably connected to the first and second spaced apart shaft portions. 
     
     
       11. The automatic belt aligning system, as set forth in claim  1 , in combination with an endless track laying work machine having a pair of track roller assemblies. 
     
     
       12. A track roller assembly comprising: 
       a roller frame;  
       a drive wheel being attached to said roller frame;  
       an idler wheel assembly being pivotally connected to said roller frame;  
       an endless rubber belt entrained about said drive wheel and said idler wheel assembly;  
       a tensioning system being connected to said roller frame and said idler wheel assembly; and  
       an automatic belt aligning system pivotally connecting said idler wheel assembly to said roller frame and being positioned in operative communication with said endless rubber belt.  
     
     
       13. The track roller assembly of claim  12 , wherein said automatic alignment system, further including (i) a first aligning mechanism being connected between said tensioning system and said idler wheel assembly, (ii) a second aligning mechanism positioned between said idler wheel assembly and said roller frame, and (iii) a lever member being connected to said second aligning mechanism and positioned in a groove in said endless rubber belt. 
     
     
       14. The track roller assembly of claim  13 , wherein said first aligning mechanism includes a spherical bearing assembly. 
     
     
       15. The track roller assembly of claim  13 , wherein said tensioning system is connected to said spherical bearing assembly by a retaining pin. 
     
     
       16. The track roller assembly of claim  13 , wherein said second aligning mechanism includes a universal type apparatus having a block portion having first and second connecting pins and a roller pin assembly, said roller pin assembly being positioned at an angle which is substantially normal to said first and second connecting pins, said roller pin assembly pivotally connecting said block portion to said second flange portion. 
     
     
       17. The track roller assembly of claim  16 , further includes a cap member having a mounting portion and a pin receiving portion, said mounting portion adapted to be connected to said roller frame and said pin receiving portion adapted to receive said second connecting pin. 
     
     
       18. The track roller assembly of claim  17 , wherein said roller frame includes a forwardly extending nose portion which is adapted to receive said first connecting pin, said cap member being connected to said forwardly extending nose portion by a plurality of fasteners. 
     
     
       19. The track roller assembly of claim  12 , including a plurality of supporting mid-rollers positioned between said drive wheel and said idler wheel assembly and being connected to said roller frame. 
     
     
       20. The track roller assembly, as set forth in claim  12 , in combination with an endless track laying work machine.